The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), led by former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, is encountering the risk of losing support from the majority Muslim community in the state ahead of the May 13 elections, following its re-entry into the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) by forming an electoral pact with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Jana Sena Party.
After prolonged discussions, Naidu struck an alliance with the BJP on March 9 and finalized a seat-sharing arrangement, wherein the BJP was granted six out of 25 Lok Sabha seats and 10 out of 175 assembly seats in the state.
Soon after, various Muslim organizations in Andhra Pradesh initiated a significant social media campaign, cautioning community members against voting for the TDP in the upcoming elections.
On March 31, the Andhra Pradesh Muslim Parirakshana Samithi (Andhra Pradesh Muslim Protection Committee) convened a meeting near Vijayawada and urged Muslims across the state to refrain from supporting NDA allies.
Lal Ahmed Ghouse, the Samithi’s state general secretary, asserted, “The BJP is fostering division among people on religious lines. Any party aligning with the BJP will be seen as anti-Muslim.” He criticized the TDP for reviving the BJP, which had a negligible presence in the state, and questioned its collaboration with a party known for targeting minorities through measures like Halal controversies, cow vigilantism, NRC, and CAA.
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The Samithi also criticized the ruling YSR Congress party, led by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, for its perceived leniency towards the Narendra Modi government, despite not forming a direct alliance with the BJP.
Simultaneously, a WhatsApp group named the Muslim Intellectuals Association has allegedly been circulating messages warning Muslims in the state about the BJP’s alliance with the TDP.
The group cautioned against voting for the “unholy communal alliance,” stating that it could lead to the implementation of contentious policies like CAA, Uniform Civil Code, NRC, and NPR.
A senior minority leader within the TDP, speaking anonymously, acknowledged the discontent among Muslims, highlighting their historical voting patterns and recent political shifts. He noted that while some Muslims leaned towards the TDP after 2019 due to its opposition to the BJP, the party’s renewed alliance has sparked anger among the community.
Responding to the criticism, YSRCP lawmaker Mohd Hafeez Khan emphasized his party’s opposition to discrimination based on religion or caste. He clarified that while the party extended support to certain BJP policies, it sought amendments to ensure inclusivity.
Naidu, addressing a rally in Madanapalle, defended the alliance with the BJP, emphasizing its focus on state development and assuring progress for Muslim minorities.
In contrast, senior BJP leader N Kiran Kumar Reddy accused the YSRCP of exploiting Muslim sentiments for electoral gain, asserting that the Modi government would safeguard Muslim rights.
The political landscape in Andhra Pradesh appears increasingly complex as parties vie for support, with the Muslim community emerging as a crucial demographic in the upcoming elections.
